The institution of marriage was established by God at the beginning of creation (Gen 2:18-25). He created man in his very image and likeness. He formed both man and woman and placed them in the earth for the following purposes:

· To serve and glorify God with their lives (Ecc 12:13).

· To procreate and populate the earth (Gen 1:28).

To be clear, he only created two genders: male and female. He made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, nor Pamela and Eve. He created marriage solely for a man and woman who would become one with each other and God. Jesus reinforced this truth before the religious elites, (Mt 19:5-6), “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made the male and female, (5) and said, ‘Therefore man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?’ (6) So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” These are Biblical truths and foundational for marriage. God remains unchanged in his Word regardless of the cultural trends of man’s society that is shaped by sinful men with debased minds that are hostile to God and his Word.

These fundamental tenets set the stage for exploration of Paul’s instructions on marriage in this sermon series where he will address issues of marriage, separation, virginity, and celibacy. Such teaching to the Corinthians on this subject is timely, as it appears they have yielded to the culture of their day and embraced moral laxity.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7
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Worldliness gets its power from lies we believe about God and his Word. It is by self-deception we are led into all sorts of sins that stunts our spiritual growth and ruins our witness to the world. This is the church culture of Corinthian saints. They had adopted a righteousness shaped by human wisdom by becoming “spiritual people” instead of “holy people” in Jesus Christ. They had become dualistic in their view of body and soul. In other words, they embraced the Greek philosophy that promoted a doctrine that asserted that what we do in our body is immaterial (i.e., of no eternal or spiritual consequence), but all that matters is the soul. Paul sets the record straight in his corrective teaching against sexual immorality being practice within their congregation, by reminding them of their union with God and our ownership (body and soul) by Christ.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:15-20
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Jesus’ resurrection was a foretaste of heaven’s blessings promised to all believers in the new creation to come. It is a divine act by which demonstrated His prophesied victory over death and vindication as the Son of God (Rom 1:4). Further, one of the foundations of our faith in Christianity (as to the certainty of Jesus resurrection) rest on these words proclaimed from the angels from heaven, “He is not here, but has risen.”

In this episode we will survey the events that occurred on that glorious third morning. Additionally, we shall explore the significance of the resurrection as it relates to our great salvation.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-14
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Jesus’ resurrection was a foretaste of heaven’s blessings promised to all believers in the new creation to come. It is a divine act by which demonstrated His prophesied victory over death and vindication as the Son of God (Rom 1:4). Further, one of the foundations of our faith in Christianity (as to the certainty of Jesus resurrection) rest on these words proclaimed from the angels from heaven, “He is not here, but has risen.”

In this episode we will survey the events that occurred on that glorious third morning. Additionally, we shall explore the significance of the resurrection as it relates to our great salvation.

Focus Scripture: Luke 24:1-12
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Spirit-led arbitration is essential to church unity. Believers (by which the Spirit dwells and yields its power) are commanded to allow God leading in our relationships with people, especially in the matter of disputes among the saints. Why? God’s version of a final resolution will inject his character, glorifying will and wisdom which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (Jam 3:17).

In contrast to God, our human nature is self-centered and self-interested to the very core. There is no mutual agreement, or “win-win” approach desired as far as our flesh is concerned. The negotiating philosophy of our fallen disposition is, “Do unto others before they do unto you.” Why is this? The root of our human nature is sinful. As result, our default way of thinking is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. This has created a worldly climate in the Corinthian church who have embraced the practice of suing one another in pagan courts. In our focus text, Paul warns them of the danger of these behaviors as it is injurious (both spiritually and physically) and ruins a church community witness.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:7-11
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The Christian life is to illuminate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world shrouded in darkness. Like city on a hill, the church is called to shine the light of salvation that permeates, influences, and changes the world around it to accord to Biblical norms. We cannot be effective in this divine mission if we apply worldly standards to our ethic of living. This is what was happening to the body of believers at Corinth. They had sign out front that said, “Church”, but on the inside it was filled with people who had conformed to a worldly way of living. Division, and sexual immorality operating in their fellowship had made shipwreck of their witness to the community around them. Paul dismay deepens as he now confronts the practice of lawsuits among the members of their church.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-6
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We have all heard the saying, "One bad apple can spoil the bunch." In principle, this is what can happen within the body of believers when the “practice” of a sinful lifestyle is allowed to thrive among his people. If such person(s) is not called to account by the church, lawlessness can grow and negatively affect the life of faith of the congregants. As a result of this spiritual truth, Paul warned the churches (1 Cor 15:33), “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (cf., Gal 5:9).

As we continue our study of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church, it appears that factionalism is not their only issue as worldliness has created a climate for another fruit of the flesh to germinate and flourish: sexual immorality. In this last section of text in chapter 5, Paul continues his instructions on how to properly address a member in their congregation who is actively involved in an incestuous relationship.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
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This week we encounter a Biblical example of a practice that is seldom talked about in the modern American church, namely church discipline. There are important truths in the passage that can awaken the Christians to the edifying effects of practicing mutual accountability within a fellowship of love which is the local church. While instances of abuse of the practice and even greater instances of neglect of the practice abound, church discipline, as taught by Jesus Christ in Matthew 18, benefits churches by promoting spiritual health and growth among the members. This passage not only instructs on how to practice church discipline but also emphasizes why it is important.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
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